A Practical Guide to Integrated Pest Management
Resource explained
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a holistic whole-farm approach to help mitigate the likelihood of pest, weed and disease pressure in a farming system. This clearly laid out Nature Friendly Farming Network guide covers the principles and practice of IPM with case studies and examples of actions that can be taken according to your farming system. It includes:
- Key Principles of Integrated Pest Management
- Step-by-Step Guide
- Key Examples of Actions
- IPM in Practice – John Taylor (Pollybell Farms)
- IPM in Practice – Mark Jelley (Perkins Lodge Farm)
- Key Species & Habitats – Beneficial Species
- Key Species & Habitats – Pests
Findings & recommendations
- Networks of inter-connected field margins, pollen and nectar mixes, beetle banks and hedgerows across the farm encourage naturally occurring predators.
- Selects cereal varieties for straw strength and strong disease resistance.
- Uses pheremone and sticky traps to assess thresholds for pests and targetted use of organic pesticides. Some great resources available for pest and disease prediction models which they use to inform decisions.
- Introduced rotational grazing to mitigate against drought and reduce reliance on artificial nitrogen – longer breaks between grazing has facilitated better grass growth and sward diversity.
- Improved herd genetics and changing carcass specifications has reduced the time the cows need to be on the farm.
- Reducing nitrogen applications has dramatically decreased the need for herbicides to control creeping thistle.
- Reducing herbicide applications has improved the performance of clover.
Highlights from John Taylor’s system include:
Highlights from Mark Jelley’s system include:
Summary provided by:
Phil SumptionEdited by:
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